Overview The seed-to-seedling transition is a brief (hours to days), mysterious period in a plant life cycle. A heterotrophic seed embryo must develop into an autotrophic photosynthesizing seedling, a metabolic conversion with rapid subsequent development of tissues to create an independent plant. Seedling establishment is a stage thought to drive species diversity in natural communities. It is also a vulnerable stage, where limited materials are stored in the seed by the parental plant. The long-term goal of my lab’s research is to understand the chemical and metabolic basis of the seed-to-seedling transition. In basic science this means understanding the chemical basis of morphogenesis and cell division, which involve genetic, biochemical, and epigenetic (metabolite-chromatin interactions) understanding of the cells and their communications within a tissue. Many changes occur in very few cells to shape the final architecture and function of developing leaves; we are directing efforts and machine learning and predicting how metabolites are used, particularly phenylpropanoids. In applied science, we can direct basic knowledge to horticultural production, solving farming issues like pests and diseases, and even finding new pathways to medicine(s) development. By understanding the seed-to-seedling phase we also can utilize the unique chemical defense employed by plants human and animal challenges, including improving nutrition, understanding anti-oxidant cell defense, inducing anti-inflammatories, and developing devices for toxins sensing in the environment. Some plants we have utilized for horticulture and medicine include soybean, broccoli, jojoba, cotton, and aspen. To find out more about laboratory research click on the RESEARCH tab at the top.